When you have diabetes, there is a lot to learn about the disease: healthful eating, the importance of being active, monitoring blood glucose levels, use of medications to treat diabetes, problem-solving when things don’t go as planned, reduction of the risks from complications of diabetes, and healthy coping strategies. Recognizing your unique learning style will help you work with your care team to maximize your ability to best absorb information about managing your disease.
Auditory learners prefer listening and in some cases may even respond to music used in the context of the subject. Talk with your diabetes care team about how listening to diabetes information is helpful.
Logical learners like getting questions answered. Consider putting together a list of questions and concerns that are important to you. Reviewing the list with your diabetes care team may be best suited to you.
Visual learners like pictures, images, and the ability to see things and how they relate to themselves and their diabetes care. Role-playing situations or thinking about the “what ifs” relative to your diabetes may benefit you. Directions that are mostly pictures may be ideal to help you see and understand what you need to do.
Social learners prefer to learn in groups, so group classes for diabetes education may be right up your alley.
Verbal learners prefer using words, both in conversation and reading information before and/or after discussing it. In this case, having a one-to-one conversation with your diabetes care team member may be a good strategy. Asking for reading material to prepare you for your visit and for reinforcement after the visit may be the best approach.
Solitary learners usually prefer to be on their own, so in this case, one-to-one appointments may be best.
Physical learners benefit from the sense of touch. Strategies such as interacting with your diabetes care team using a hands-on approach may be optimal. Determining portion sizes with food models and exploring the features of a blood glucose monitor may be ideal for you.
These resources may be helpful to determine your learning style.
For adult learners: www.educationplanner.org/students/self-assessments/learning-styles-quiz.shtml